Container vehicle and adjustable bracket means therefor

ABSTRACT

In a container carrying flat deck railroad car, a plurality of container supporting adjustable brackets, each bracket comprising a roller carriage means moved along and retained by the side portion of the flat deck car, the carriage means pivotally carrying an upright container-supporting member provided with a container corner seat and lock means insertable in a set of longitudinally spaced apertures for securing the bracket support member to the deck and having container indexing and tying means for attaching the container corner to the support member, said support member being foldable into a recess on the deck to lie flush with the deck or tilted outwardly and supported by a stilt for movement thereof longitudinally of the deck by the roller carriage.

United States Patent [72] Inventor Jack E. Gutridge 3,182,607 5/1965 Sherrie 105/366 Dyer, Ind. 3,220,359 1 1/1965 Banerjea et al. 105/366 [21 1 Appl, No. 773,934 3,307,496 3/1967 Sweger 105/366 [22] Filed Nov. 6, 1968 3,391,654 7/1968 Grob et a1. 105/366 [45] Patented Feb. 2, 1971 Prim E D ry xammerrayton E. Hoffman [73] Assignee Incorporated Attorneys-Hilmond O. Vogel and Wayne Morris Russell Chicago, Ill. a corporation of Delaware [54] CONTAINER VEHICLE AND ADJUSTABLE ABSTRACT: In a container carrying flat deck railroad car, a plurality of container supporting adjustable brackets, each bracket comprising a roller carriage means moved along and retained by the side portion of the flat deck car, the carriage means pivotally carrying an upright container-supporting member provided with a container comer seat and lock means insertable in a set of longitudinally spaced apertures for securing the bracket support member to the deck and having container indexing and tying means for attaching the container corner to the support member, said support member being foldable into a recess on the deck to lie flush with the deck or tilted outwardly and supported by a stilt for movement thereof longitudinally of the deck by the roller carriage.

' PATENTEDFEB2 m1 3.659.590

' SHEET 1 OF 3 INVENTOR GUTRIDGE PATENTED F552 I971 SHEET 2 OF 3 INVENTOR JACK E. GU TR/DGE ATT'Y.

PATENTEU FEBZ |97l SHEET 3 OF 3 l4 INVENTOR JACK E. GUTRIDGE z ATT'Y.

CONTAINER VEHICLE AND ADJUSTABLE BRACKET MEANS THEREFOR BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention This invention relates to container carrying railroad cars and in particular to flat deck railroad cars having adjustable bracket means for supporting the comers of a container on the flat deck of the railroad car. The container corner support brackets are constructed to accept various types of containers on the flat deck and it is this area with which the invention is concerned.

2. Description of the Prior Art The prior art has proposed various types of container brackets for supporting and carrying containers of varying lengths upon the flat deck of a railroad car but it is desirable to provide an adjustable type of corner bracket arrangement for being movable along the deck and yet to be stored in an outof-way position when not in use. It is this objective the invention has for its purpose.

SUMMARY The invention relates to an improved type of container mounting arrangement on a flat deck car and in particular relates to a corner bracket arrangement which is movable lengthwise of the flat deck by means of rollers or the like which roll or slide the bracket lengthwise of the vehicle and wherein the container supporting portion of the corner bracket may be supported on the roller means or pivoted into a recessed portion of the flat deck for an out-of-way storage purpose. These and other objects, advantages and purposes of the invention will become more readily apparent by reference to the following description, attached drawings and appended claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective partial view of a flat deck railroad car employing the inventive comer bracket arrangement;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the comer bracket arrangement in the upright position;

FIG. 3 is a side elevational view of a pair of adjacent comer brackets;

FIG. 4 is a top plan view, partly in section, of the pair of adjacent comer brackets shown in FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a transverse view of the comer bracket in upright and in tilted position over the roller carrier arrangement; and

FIG. 6 is a sectional view of the comer bracket taken along line 6-6 of FIG. 4.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT With reference now to the drawings, there is shown in FIG. I a portion of a flat deck 2 of a railroad car 3 provided with the usual trucks 4 and side sill or side structure 5. The flat car 3 may be of the cushion underframe type and provided with coupling means 6. The flat deck is provided with a plurality of container comer bracket structures 7 disposed along the sides of the car and intermediate the ends thereof which comer brackets are adjustable and the deck is further provided with fixed end comer brackets 8 and fixed intermediate brackets 8a which do not move longitudinally of the car. The container brackets 8, 8 or 80. 8a of the fixed type may be recessed in the deck or elevated into an in use position, as shown in FIG. 1, to cooperate with the adjustable container comer bracket structure 7 for supporting a container 9 (a portion of each of two containers being shown in FIG. 3).

As shown in FIGS. 2-6, the adjustable container comer bracket structure 7 comprises a container support carriage structure or roller means 10. The roller means or assembly 10 has a pair of rollers 11 and 12 at each end thereof, can'ied on a respective roller shaft 13 joumaled on L-shaped bracket or arm 14 which has an upper inner end 15 hinged to an upright container supporting member 16 by hinge means 17 for pivotal movement with respect thereto. The rollers 12 and 13 ride over the surface of the support shelf or L-shaped ledge 18 mounted on the side sill 5 which has an upper L-shaped roller confining portion I) having vertical end part and upper horizontal part 1%, as seen in FIG. 5. The outer downwardly extending free end 190 extends outwardly of the rollers 12 and between the rollers 12 and the downwardly extending portion of the arm 14.

The upright supporting member 16 is provided with a lon gitudinally extending upright wall 20 which is pivotally attached to the roller means 10 by the hinge means 17 and has connected at its upper inner end longitudinally extending indexing wall 21 which is at right angles to indexing wall 22 to define with the indexing wall 21 a guide for receiving the corner of a container. A horizontal seat 23 forms the base of the supporting member for receiving the comer of a container. The indexing elements 21 and 22 are provided with the usual sloping surface at their upper ends for guiding the container comer onto the seat 23. The wall 20, as best seen in FIG. 2, is provided with an upright slot 24 which receives the toe 25 or container locking or tying portion of the container lock or catch member 26 which, at its lower end 27, has fixed to it a horizontal arm 30 which by pivot pin 30a is pivotally connected to member 16. The spring 31 having one end fixed to the member 16, has the other end biasingly engaging arm 30 to prevent pivoting of catch member 26 out of the opening 24.

The container locking element 26 may be pivoted into position for locking the container to the bracket 7 by extension of toe 25 into the opening of the comer casting of a container or be removed from opening 24 to permit removal of the container. The member 16 further pivotally houses a stilt or support member 34 as by pivot means 35, see FIG. 3, on the wall 20 whereby the support member 34 may swing outwardly to allow the container supporting member to assume an outwardly inclined position, as shown in FIG. 5, the stilt or leg 34 being supported on the top surface of the L-shaped arm or bracket 14. The seat 23, as best seen in FIG. 2, is supported with a transverse wall 37 opposite wall 22, the both walls being supported on base plate 38 of the member 16 which has aperture 39 through which extends spring-loaded latch 40 for connecting the supporting member 16 to the deck 2 by having the plunger 41 of the latch 40 extendible through one of a plurality of apertures 42 in longitudinal alignment with the other apertures 42 longitudinally spaced along the deck 2. The latch 40 has a housing 43 containing a spring 440 therein which urges the plunger 41 through the opening 39 and down into the selected deck opening 42 for urging the foot 44 against the edge of the slot 39 so that the toe 45 of the foot 44 prevents removal of the support member from its upright position on the deck in conjunction with toe 47 of the foot 46 depending from base 38 extending through another deck aperture 42. Each of the feet or lugs 44 or 46 is small enough to pass through its opening 42 with the plunger member 41 preventing withdrawal of the feet from the deck, as best seen in FIG. 6.

The deck is provided with a plurality of openings 50, as seen in FIG. 1, each opening 50 permitting a pair of longitudinally movable brackets 7 to pass through for storage of the brackets under the deck 2 and against the inside of the side sill 5. Each container supporting member 16 is pivoted about its hinge connection with the roller means 10 to have the support member 16 move from an upright position, shown in FIG. 2, to a below-deck position with wall 20 being generally flush with the deck 2, as seen in FIG. I. When the bracket means 7 is not stored below the deck, the opening 50 is covered with a cover plate 51. End and intermediate openings 53 in the deck permit storage of the end and intermediate container bracket members 8 and 8a.

The supporting member may also be released from its container supporting position, as seen in FIG. 2, by pulling on the ring 40a against the action of the spring 44a to allow the supporting member to be tilted, as seen in dotted line in FIG. 5,

and supported by stilt 34 on the roller carriage means l for longitudinal transfer within Association of American Railroads clearance requirements as indicated by clearance line 55. to a below deck position. Alternately, the support member 16 can be laid flat on the roller assembly with the strut 34 placed in recess 34. When the strut 34 does support the member 16 over the roller assembly 10, its free end is trapped between lugs 34a and 34b to prevent sliding of the strut outwardly of the car. When mounting the container-supporting bracket means 7 on the deck for supporting the container, the bracket means 7 is first moved along the deck adjacent the desired location on the car to permit the feet or lugs 44 or 46 to enter the appropriate deck apertures 42 with the plunger 4] spring snapping into its appropriate hole 42. In the stored position the underside of the base plate 38 rests against the inside of the side sill 5, as shown in dotted line in FIG. 5. As seen in FIGS. 1 and 3, two containers may be stored on each half section of the deck between adjustable and fixed container-supporting bracket means 7 and 8.

The foregoing description and drawings are given merely to explain and illustrate the invention, and the invention is not to be limited thereto, since those skilled in the art who have the disclosure before them will be able to make modifications and variations therein without departing from the scope of the invention.

I claim:

1. In a railroad car having a flat deck for carrying a plurality of container support brackets to support the container at its comers;

a container support bracket having a base for engagement with the car deck in a container supporting position;

a roller carriage affixed on the side of the car and movable longitudinally thereof;

hinge means on the outboard side of said bracket and connecting said bracket and said roller carriage and said hinge means providing for transverse pivotal movement of the bracket with respect to the roller carriage;

bracket receiving recess means in the deck at the lateral edge of the car providing a recessed below-deck area for the bracket whereby the bracket may be swung about said hinge means from above the deck to a below-deck stored position;

said carriage including an outwardly extending arm having an outboard depending flange;

roller means carried by said outboard flange and a lower arm fixed to the outboard side of said deck underneath said outwardly extending arm and having a depending flange portion spaced between said roller means and said outboard flange; and

a side mounted support adjacent said deck upon which said roller means is movably supported.

2. The invention according to claim 1, and said hinge means being at the lower end of said bracket and on said deck.

3. In a railroad car having a flat deck for carrying a plurality of container support brackets to support the container at its comers;

a container support bracket having a base for engagement with the car deck in a container supporting position;

a roller carriage affixed on the side of the car and movable longitudinally thereof,

hinge means on the outboard side of said bracket and connecting said bracket and said roller carriage and said hinge means providing for transverse pivotal movement of the bracket with respect to the roller carriage;

bracket receiving recess means in the deck at the lateral edge of the car providing a recessed below-deck area for the bracket whereby the bracket may be swung about said hinge means from above the deck to a below-deck stored position;

said carriage including outwardly extending arm means and roller means carried by the arm means;

a side mounted ann disposed between the arm means and the roller means to limit lateral movement of the roller means; and a side mounted support adjacent the deck upon WhlCh the roller means is movably supported.

4. in a railroad car having a flat deck for carrying a plurality of container support brackets to support the container at its comers;

a container support bracket having a base for engagement with the car deck in a container supporting position;

a bearing carriage affixed on the side of the car and movable longitudinally thereof and movable bearing means fixedly transported longitudinally of the car by the carriage;

hinge means on the outboard side of said bracket and connecting said bracket and said roller carriage and said hinge means providing for transverse pivotal movement of the bracket with respect to the roller carriage;

bracket receiving recess means in the deck at the lateral edge of the car providing a recessed below-deck area for the bracket whereby the bracket may be swung about said hinge means from above the deck to a below-deck stored position; and

a side mounted arm engageable with the bearing means to limit vertical and lateral movement of the carriage and a side mounted support for horizontally supporting the movable bearing means and the carriage thereby.

5. The invention according to claim 4; and

said bracket being provided with a pivotally mounted stilt having its lower end engageable with the top surface of said arm means and held thereby against lateral movement in support of the bracket at an outwardly extending angle with respect to the car deck.

6. The invention according to claim 4; and

indexing means being provided on said bracket;

seat means cooperative to support said bracket and being adjacent said indexing means;

container lock means extendable through said bracket for engagement with an aperture in the comer of a container, the lock means being pivotally mounted on the outboard side of the bracket; and

means on said bracket engageable with said lock means for biasingly holding the lock means in a container engaged position.

7. In a railroad car for a flat deck for carrying a plurality of container support brackets to support the container at its corners;

a container support bracket having a base for engagement with the car deck in a container supporting position;

a roller carriage afiixed on the side of the car and movable longitudinally thereof;

hinge means on the outboard side of said bracket and connecting'with said bracket and said roller carriage and said hinge means providing for transverse pivotal movement of the bracket with respect to the roller carriage;

bracket-receiving recess means in the deck at the lateral edge of the car providing a recessed below-deck area for the bracket whereby the bracket may be swung about said hinge means from above the deck to a below-deck stored position;

said bracket including an upright bracket support element being defined by an above-deck container seat and indexing means extending above the seat for guiding of the comer of the container into the seat;

said roller carriage including an outboardly extending first arm pivotally attached to the lower portion of the element and provided with an outboard downwardly extending flange;

roller means mounted on the flange between the inside of the flange and the side of the car;

a roller support base for the roller means; and

arm means attached to the side of the car above the roller means and having a depending flange portion positioned between the roller means and the flange for capturing the roller means between the flange portion, the side of the car and the roller support base. 

1. In a railroad car having a flat deck for carrying a plurality of container support brackets to support the container at its corners; a container support bracket having a base for engagement with the car deck in a container supporting position; a roller carriage affixed on the side of the car and movable longitudinally thereof; hinge means on the outboard side of said bracket and connecting said bracket and said roller carriage and said hinge means providing for transverse pivotal movement of the bracket with respect to the roller carriage; bracket receiving recess means in the deck at the lateral edge of the car providing a recessed below-deck area for the bracket whereby the bracket may be swung about said hinge means from above the deck to a below-deck stored position; said carriage including an outwardly extending arm having an outboard depending flange; roller means carried by said outboard flange and a lower arm fixed to the outboard side of said deck underneath said outwardly extending arm and having a depending flange portion spaced between said roller means and said outboard flange; and a side mounted support adjacent said deck upon which said roller means is movably supported.
 2. The invention according to claim 1, and said hinge means being at the lower end of said bracket and on said deck.
 3. In a railroad car having a flat deck for carrying a plurality of container support brackets to support the container at its corners; a container support bracket having a base for engagement with the car deck in a container supporting position; a roller carriage affixed on the side of the car and movable longitudinally thereof, hinge means on the outboard side of said bracket and connecting said bracket and said roller carriage and said hinge means providing for transverse pivotal movement of the bracket with respect to the roller carriage; bracket receiving recess means in the deck at the lateral edge of the car providing a recessed below-deck area for the bracket whereby the bracket may be swung about said hinge means from above the deck to a below-deck stored position; said carriage including outwardly extending arm means and roller means carried by the arm means; a side mounted arm disposed between the arm means and the roller means to limit lateral movement of the roller means; and a side mounted support adjacent the deck upon which the roller means is movably supported.
 4. In a railroad car having a flat deck for carrying a plurality of container support brackets to support the container at its corners; a container support bracket having a base for engagement with the car deck in a container supporting position; a bearing carriage affixed on the side of the car and movable longitudinally thereof and movable bearing means fixedly transported longitudinally of the car by the carriage; hinge means on the outboard side of said bracket and connecting said bracket and said roller carriage and said hinge means providing for transverse pivotal movement of the bracket with respect to the roller carriage; bracket receiving recess means in the deck at the lateral edge of the car providing a recessed below-deck area for the bracket whereby the bracket may be swung about said hinge means from above the deck to a below-deck stored position; and a side mounted arm engageable with the bearing means to limit vertical and lateral movement of the carriage and a side mounted support for horizontally supporting the movable bearing means and the carriage thereby.
 5. The invention according to claim 4; and said bracket being provided with a pivotally mounted stilt having its lower end engageable with the top surface of said arm means and held thereby against lateral movement in support of the bracket at an outwardly extending angle with respect to the car deck.
 6. The invention according to claim 4; and indexing means being provided on said bracket; seat means cooperative to support said bracket and being adjacent said indexing means; container lock means extendable through said bracket for engagement with an aperture in the corner of a container, the lock means being pivotally mounted on the outboard side of the bracket; and means on said bracket engageable with said lock means for biasingly holding the lock means in a container engaged position.
 7. In a railroad car for a flat deck for carrying a plurality of container support brackets to support the container at its corners; a container support bracket having a base for engagement with the car deck in a container supporting position; a roller carriage affixed on the side of the car and movable longitudinally thereof; hinge means on the outboard side of said bracket and connecting with said bracket and said roller carriage and said hinge means providing for transverse pivotal movement of the bracket with respect to the roller carriage; bracket-receiving recess means in the deck at the lateral edge of the car providing a recessed below-deck area for the bracket whereby the bracket may be swung about said hinge means from above the deck to a below-deck stored position; said bracket including an upright bracket support element being defined by an above-deck container seat and indexing means extending above the seat for guiding of the corner of the container into the seat; said roller carriage including an outboardly extending first arm pivotally attached to the lower portion of the element and provided with an outboard downwardly extending flange; roller means mounted on the flange between the inside of the flange and the side of the car; a roller support base for the roller means; and arm means attached to the side of the car above the roller means and having a depending flange portion positioned between the roller means and the flange for capturing the roller means between the flange portion, the side of the car and the roller support base. 